Aimee Jeffrey, a mother of five from Portsmouth, has been convicted after unlawfully claiming £33,000 in Universal Credit benefits despite inheriting £280,000 from her late stepmother. Jeffrey pleaded guilty to one count of dishonestly failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of a change in her financial situation that affected her eligibility.
Prosecutor Noel Watkins revealed that Jeffrey continued to receive Universal Credit payments in 2020, even after the inheritance substantially altered her financial standing. Instead of reporting this change, she spent the inherited money on expensive clothes and holidays. By 2022, she had unlawfully received an overpayment of £33,000, a significant misuse of public funds that has long since been spent.
Jeffrey’s defense lawyer, Lewis Foster, explained that she accepted responsibility at the earliest stage. He highlighted that Jeffrey had acted as executor for her stepmother’s estate, managed funeral arrangements, maintained employment, and cared for her children. Most of the inheritance was reportedly used to pay off debts and to start a business, which ultimately failed, leaving her in financial distress once more.
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Judge David Robinson, presiding over the case, opted for a suspended six-month custodial sentence with a one-year suspension, alongside 15 days of rehabilitation, rather than immediate imprisonment. Jeffrey was also ordered to pay a £154 surcharge and £85 in costs. The court declined to demand compensation, noting that any overpayment would be reclaimed through her current benefit payments.
Andrew Western, a Labour Party and DWP minister, issued a strong warning against benefit fraud, emphasizing that investigators are vigilant and determined to hold offenders accountable. He urged the public to report any suspected abuses of the social security system.